William Ashley-Norman

About William Ashley-Norman

The artist William Ashley-Norman has been working with Chickenwire for over twenty five years. A happened upon talent, he has spent many years creating an entire menagerie of animals, as well as figures, portraits and the occasional oddity. He has now started upon a collection of `single piece sculptures, forms that are manipulated and shaped from a single sheet of wire. The only tools that are used are a pair of wire cutters and a small pair of pliers. All sculptures are made by hand. The creature sculptures and smaller pieces are created by connecting specially cut pieces of wire to accentuate the joins and connections of the pieces. Pieces such as the Turtle or the Seahorse are good examples of how the connection of the wire improves the effect. The single sheet relief figures are something else entirely. These are formed by hand with the slow manipulation of the wire to create a flow to the piece. Working slowly, the wire is formed little by little to create and mould into shape the form required, as the work continues, the subject begins to emerge from the wire and is coaxed and refined until eventually the vision in the mind is created. This style of work does away with strong join lines and leads to a much more delicate sculpture with a light and ethereal quality, a much more serene vision.

Exhibition History of William Ashley-Norman

As the single sheet collection is still a work in progress full exhibitions are yet to be confirmed.Previous exhibitions have been held at Stamford Arts centre, 2006/2011.Mannequins work,London Fashion weekFiretrap Clothing Store, Covent Garden, LondonNumerous school workshops

Biography / CV of William Ashley-Norman

William Ashley-Norman has been creating these wire sculptures for over twenty five years. It all started when asked by his father to help clear some wire fencing from the garden. This promptly turned into a dragon.Since that time, the artist has continued to challenge himself in his chosen medium. The artists has held exhibitions in his home town of Stamford, as well as providing sculptures for London fashion week, firetrap clothing amongst others.

Teaching Experience

In the last 2 years alone, over 4700 pupils have been taught in school workshops from 8 to 18 years of age. Younger pupils work to create sculptures from templates that the artist has created. Older students are encouraged to create their own designs.

The sculptures arrived in the meantime and on weekend I brought them home to my private house/garden. They arrived in a perfect condition and when I have opened them I was speechless – Shaun, they look great. I got the picture from you where I could see them before but in reality they look much more better !!! JJJ I am really happy – thank you so much that you made them for me. They will get a perfect place in my garden – I will send you pictures than ! Once again m... [Read more]
Andrea D, St Ruprecht, Austria.